something having the look of incomplete or stunted growth, as a horn of an animal.

Bridge. a part-score.

verb (used with object),stubbed,stub·bing.

to strike accidentally against a projecting object: I stubbed my toe against the step.

to extinguish the burning end of (a cigarette or cigar) by crushing it against a solid object (often followed by out): He stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray.

to clear of stubs, as land.

to dig up by the roots; grub up (roots).

Origin of stub

1

before 1000; (noun) Middle Englishstubb(e), Old Englishstubb tree stump; cognate with Middle Low German,Middle Dutchstubbe,Old Norsestubbi; akin to Old Norsestūfr stump; (v.) late Middle Englishstubben to dig up by the roots, clear stumps from (land), derivative of the noun

stub

n.

Old English stybb "stump of a tree," from Proto-Germanic *stubjaz (cf. Middle Dutch stubbe, Old Norse stubbr), from PIE root *(s)teu- (see steep (adj.)). Extended in Middle English to other short, thick things. The verb sense of "strike (one's toe) against" something is first recorded 1848. Meaning "to extinguish a cigarette" is from 1927. Related: Stubbed; stubbing.